The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-26
temperance.
Written for the Waterman.
Why Guy Lost His Home.
ny AUNT SOPHIA.


watching the falling snow and the vii
lage lamps, as one by one they brightly
glimmered in the distance. For a long
time he had been wishing for something
to do, or some little boy to play with.
Pretty soon whom should he see but
Fred Thomas coming round the corner.
"Oh, mamma, mammal Fred is
comingl Can't | go call him to help
me make snow man? It's Just cold
enough to freeze him solid, and I've
such splendid piece of charcoal wen
make his eyes shine like old Peters.
Papa said / did not know how to make
one; but, if you'll only let me go, can
make such nice one papa will think
it's real live man."
should much like to see your work
myself, Eddie; but several children in
the neighborhood have diphtheria, and
the weather is so severe it's impossible
to allow any unnecessary exposure; so
wait patiently for fair, warm day, and
after tea is over I'll tell you story"
ooh! will it be true stOry?" asked
Eddie; 60 long story and about a little
boy no bigger than ~"
" Yes, Eddie, it is q true story. |
knew the little fellow from his earliest
childhood. His mother was near
relative of your fathers. He had an
elder brother, but before either had
seen five summers their father died.
AT that time they were living in large
city and in as pretty a home as you
have. But their father, although man
aging to live comfortably, had spent so
much in drink he had saved no money:
/ ha hn oft u; 60
two helpless little ones, whom / will
call Guy and Paul. Guy was much
more ambitious than Paul, and at an
early age planned what he would do
to help mamma when he became man.
Paul was different. He hated books
and work alike, and always caused his
mother much trouble. One night Guy
came home from school breathless with
excitement. Rushing into the house,
he exclaimed: Mamma. mamma. I've
found something to do. l can have my
new boots now. I'm going to sell
daily papers. Frank Way says he
makes fifteen cents every day, and if
he does | know l can. l know just
how much that would amount to in
three weeks, and it will just get my
boots. Do you suppose it's safe to
carry so much money in my pockets?
Frank said his papa bought him little
bank. Now if | can have one / can
play it's real bank, and if put all my
money there | can soon buy you some
boots You must recollect, Eddie,
that little Guy was then only eight
years old-just year older than you
and that instead of buying balls, mar
bles, kites and other toys like yours he
cheerfully saved every penny to help
mamma. Often Guy was tempted to
buy pretty book, nice new knife or
some delicious candy. Very often
Paul teased him and called him misery
Pm sorry to say other little boys did
the same. Guy seemed to overcome
those little trials and every day he felt
himself more and more man. Often
times when he went to bed he wished
oh, so earnestly-that he might grow in
just one night to be as big man as he
remembered his papa. For several
years Guy added little by little to his
savings, meanwhile studying hard at
school, to prepare himself for future
usefulness. For long time he had
felt rather dissatisfied with so slow an
accumulation of money. He was Won
dering how he could increase his de-
pleted funds when, walking up the
street one morning, he saw in one of
the largest business offices in the city a
placard bearing, in big letters, Boy
wanted within Perhaps there may
be something | would like to do he
said. guess I'll see.' So, confident
of success, he walks in and in a bust
ness-like manner inquiries for the mana
ger. Fortunately he was in, and, be-
ing kind-hearted, genial old man and
fond of boys, he greeted him most cor
daily, saying: What can | do for you,
my lad?' | see you want boy, sir.
Don't you think III do? Pm helping
to support my mother. Won't you try
me2 l think Pm big enough?' 1t is
needless to say the old man hired him
at once, and Guy, feeling more man
than ever, hurried home to relate his
new success. Step after step he pro-
crossed for years. He loved his work
became proficient in all its details, and
at twenty-one was sole manager of a
llourishing business corporation, giving
him salary quite sufficient to support
himself and mother most comfortably.
There are very many thoroughly in
teresting little incidents concerning
his boyhood which l must omit,
for l want to show you how very
good boys, being so self-reliant,
are sometimes led astray, and how
this poormother, in her declining years,
suffered through the neglect of her
once thoughtful son. Year after year
she had increasingly toiled, denying
herself every luxury, often harrassed
by thousand perpleXities and receiv-
ing no other compensation than the
plainest food and clothing. She was
earnestly hoping for brighter future,
when, freed from the anxiety self-sup-
port, she would find in Guy realiza-
ton of all her hopes. He began very
fairly. He moved her away to a
neighboring city in which he was en-
ployed, secured pleasant home and
furnished it anew. For three years he
prospered. He grew, as people say,
fine-looking. He was tiattered. Pride
overcame sound sense. So, thinking
himself a handsome lad, photographers
were frequently visited. Pictures in
cabinets, panels and other ways adorned
the walls of his home. They Were
given to friends, and everybody must
have picture of Guy, he was so nice
No longer satisfied with the plain cloth
ing he used to wear, the most fashion